Greinke named Silver Slugger Award winner

Right-hander, who batted .328, is fourth Dodgers pitcher to get hitting honor

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com

LOS ANGELES -- Starter Zack Greinke was awarded the Silver Slugger on Wednesday as the best hitting pitcher in the National League, the first Dodgers pitcher to win the honor in 20 years.

Greinke batted .328 with 19 hits, seven walks and a .409 on-base percentage. His batting average was highest for a Dodgers pitcher since Orel Hershiser's .356 in 1993, the last time a Dodgers pitcher won a Silver Slugger. Tim Leary (1988) and Fernando Valenzuela (1981, 1983) are the only other Dodgers pitchers to win the award.

Greinke just completed the first year of a six-year, $147 million contract. He went 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA, despite missing a month with a broken collarbone suffered in a brawl April 11 in San Diego.

Greinke came into the season with a .170 career batting average, having spent only 1 1/2 seasons in the National League.

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.